Cochrane author and Christian blogger Lynn Dove has once again been shortlisted in the 2019 Word Awards, presented by the Word Guild.
“I don't write for the awards,” she said. “But, it's wonderful to be amongst a group of individuals that have these kinds of accolades.”
Dove has been nominated for the awards twice previously, in 2011 – when she won her category – and in 2017.
This year, she has been shortlisted in two separate categories. Her blog, Journey Thoughts, is a finalist for the David Mainse Best Blog of the Year Award, and one of her blog articles, Canada’s Grief, is shortlisted in the Article and General Market – Personal Experience category.
Dove started the blog in 2009 to promote a book she had just written. Eventually, she began to write more blog-style posts with personal anecdotes and stories about her background. As the site's popularity grew, she said, her goal was to encourage those who have faith and to reach other who does not.
Canada’s Grief was written shortly after the Humboldt Bronco bus crash and highlighted Dove’s personal experience in dealing with the tragedy. Although she didn’t know anyone involved in the crash, she said she felt the incident hit close to home.
“I just needed to write about it and how we were experiencing it on our own and in our own way,” she said. “It not only affected my family, but it affected the nation as a whole.”
Dove said the blog allows her to connect with her readers who are going through both hardships and positive times.
“I get a lot of feedback and a lot of comments from people that have read the blog from around the world. If the [blog has] touched their hearts, it means the world to me,” she said.
Dove credits her success with her choice to write about relatable topics from her day-to-day life.
“My blog is very humorous and full of sweet stories about my family in general,” she said. “And people just seem to like those kinds of feel-good stories.”
The Word Guild’s Word Awards Gala will take place at the Write Canada Conference, June 14 at Carmen’s Banquet Centre in Hamilton, Ont. Although Dove said she and her family hope to attend, the results of an upcoming surgery may prevent that.
